Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class)
Heading into 2011, Michael Fassbender was a relatively unknown actor's actor. In February, David Cronenberg told EW, ''Although he's not that well known to the public yet, everybody thinks Michael's quivering on the brink of major stardom.'' Now, heading into 2012, the quivering has stopped and Fassbender has arrived, thanks to four unshakable performances. In March, he gave Jane Eyre's Mr. Rochester a moody, broody makeover. In June, he struck box-office pay dirt as the young Magneto in X-Men: First Class. Now, with awards season in full swing, Fassbender, 34, has folks buzzing again with his turns as a kinky Carl Jung in Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method and an even kinkier Manhattan sex addict in Shame. ''I haven't had time to stop and think,'' says the actor of his busy year. ''Maybe I should be worried that after all these movies, people are going to be Fassbendered out.'' Somehow we doubt it. —Chris Nashawaty
Image Credit: RICHARD PHIBBS FOR EW
15 Breakout Stars of 2011
From movies (Michael Fassbender and Shailene Woodley) to TV (Damon Wayans Jr. and Beth Behrs) to music (LMFAO and Foster the People), performers who raised their profile to another level this year
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Movie Calendar
- May 3
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- May 31
- June 7
- June 14
- June 21
- June 28
- July 5
- July 12
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- July 25
- July 26
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- August 30
- * Dates subject to change
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